Plastic container spout

ABSTRACT

A plastic container spout for mounting on the outer surface of a container and slidably movable between a substantially juxtaposed retracted position and an extended pouring position.

United States Patent [191 Klygis [54] PLASTIC CONTAINER SPOUT [75] Inventor: M. Julius Klygis, Evergreen Park,

Ill.

[73] Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc., Chicago,

Ill.

[22] Filed: Feb. 26, 1971 [21] App]. No.: 119,284

[52] US. Cl. 222/567, 220/85 SP [51] Int. Cl. ..B65d 5/74 [58] Field of Search ..222/570, 566, 538,

222/567, 574, I84, 526, 420, 81, 189; 220/85 SP, 23.4, 48 X; 229/22; 141/337, 343

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1971 Conway et a1. 220/23.4 X

2,042,996 6/1936 John ..222/54l X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,315,428 2/1962 France ..22 2/567 980,907 2/ 1949 France ..222/570 Primary ExaminerSamuel F. Coleman Assistant ExaminerJames M. Slattery Att0rneyRobert W. Beart, Jack R. l-lalvorsen, Thomas W. Buckman, Edward L. Benno and Olson, Trexler, Wolters & Bushnell [57] ABSTRACT A plastic container spout for mounting on the outer surface of a container and slidably movable between a substantially juxtaposed retracted position and an extended pouring position.

12 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PKTENTEUAPMOIBH 3,726,447,

sum 1 [1F 2 INVENTOR. M. Jul/us K/yg/s BY zuwds gg His Aff'ys PATENTED APR 1 0 I973 sum 2 OF 2 INVENTOR M. Ju/ius K lyg/"s BY L MJ 24M H/s AH'ys invention;

PLASTIC CONTAINER SPOUT SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to container pouring spouts for easy application and cooperation with the outer surface of a container such as a can, and is particularly efficient when used with cans having a beaded chime. The spout is preferably formed from an unsupported sheet of resilient, elastic plastic material such as high density polyethylene. The spout is provided with an integral band which is slipped about the can. In the retracted position, the spout is in a snug can encircling arrangement providing substantially no interference to the packaging of a plurality of cans carrying the spouts in standard can cartons. Once the can is opened for use of the contents, the spout is easily slid to the pouring position.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a simple container spout for the outer surface of a container which is easily applied, compactly car- Other objects and features of the invention will be apparent upon a perusal of the following specification and drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of the invention as it is formed from a sheet of plastic material;

FIG. 2 is ,aside elevational view of a container with the spout of FIG. 1 applied thereto and in the retracted position;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the arrangement of FIG. 2 with the spout and canin pouring position; I

- FIG 4 is a plan view of another embodiment of the.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a container with the DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Each of the embodiments 10, ll, 12 and 13 of the spout of the present invention is formed from a flat spout of FIG. 4 applied thereto and theretracted position; and

sheetof material, preferably an unsupported sheet of a resilient, elastic, plastic material such as high density polyethylene.

Each of the spouts'l0, ll, 12 and 13 has a base portion and side edges converging to a tip portion. With such a shape, it is contemplated that the spouts can be formed from a continuous strip or web of material by a base-to-tip alignment of side-by-side spouts.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, it may be seen that the side edges of the base portion are formed with rounded corners. The base portion includes anintegral band 14 which is formed by slitting or-otherwise cutting.

the sheet material along a line spaced from the marginal edge thereof and following the rounded corners substantially to a point where the rounded corners terminate at the straight side edges of the spout 10. The width of the base portion is correlated to the circumference of the container 15 to which the spout 10 is to be applied so that when the band 14 is drawn away from the remainder of the spout 10, a container encircling hole is defined which permits the spout 10 to be snugly applied circumferentially of the container 15 as may be seen in FIG. 2. The resiliency of the material insures a snug association of the spout 10 with outer surface of the container 15.

In each of the spouts 10, 11, 12 and 13, the converging angle of the side marginal edges and the length are correlated to the height and circumference of the container to which the spout is to be applied so that the spout when applied to the container is no longer than the container, and when projected axially of the container to pouring position, as in FIG. 3, the spout is curved in the shape of a trough with side walls decreasing ti the tip portion. In the embodiments of the inven:

tion shown in FIGS. 1-3 and 7 the side walls of the spout will extend circumferentially further about the container than will the side walls of the embodiments of FIGS. 4-6.

Scored or weakening lines 16 may be provided on the spout 10 to produce a configuration at the tip portion which is more V-shaped than semi-circular. The lines 16 are preferably positioned parallel to the side edges of the spout 10.

The spouts 10, ll, 12 and 13 are particularly efficient when used with containers or cans having a beaded chime because with such containers the spouts are inherently locked on the containers against accidental endwise removal. This feature is emphasized when in'the formation of the spouts, the edges of the container encircling band and the edge of the base are sharply defined. In any normal movement of the spout to either the retracted'or pouring positions, the spot will engage the chime and be positively retained on .the container;

V In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 4" and 5, the container encircling band 17 in a-flat condi-- tipack by securing the handles 18 of a number of spouts together.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 6

the band 21 is curvilinear and thereby provides a' greater ratio of band length to base width than in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3. The spout 12 is further provided with a lip portion 22 which will extend substantially axially from the rim of the container toward the bottom end when the spout 12 is in pouring position of a container. The score lines on spout 12 are shown at the band defined by slits 24 and 25 is drawn outwardly 1 of the remainder of the spout to define a containerencircling shape. As with spout 12, the portion 26 will extend axially along the containerwhen spout 13 is positioned in pouring position on a container. The score lines on spout 13 are shown at 27.

I claim:

1. A spout for embracingly encircling a complementary container, said spout formed from a sheet of flexible material and comprising a body portion in the general shape of a trapezoid and an integral band lying in a common substantially flat plane, the ends of said band being integrally connected to the opposite ends of one end of the generally parallel ends of said body portion, the non-parallel sides of said body portion converging from said one end toward the other end thereof, said band and said one end having a combined length permitting said band and said one end to be placed in container encircling relationship on a complementary container.

2. In a spout as defined in claim 1, and score lines formed in said body section and extending longitudinally thereof between said one end and said other end.

3. In a spout as defined in claim 1, said material comprising a resilient, flexible material.

4. In a spout as defined in claim 1, said band being formed substantially contiguous to said one end.

5. In a spout as defined in claim 1, said band being formed in a curvilinear shape of more and half of a circle.

v shape with a broader end portion of said bland defining a base of said spout and the longitudinal side marginal edges of said blank extending from said base in a converging direction to the other end of said blank, the other narrower end portion of said blank defining the tip portion of said spout, said blank provided with slit means substantially parallel to said base to form an integral band adapted to be moved out of the plane of said blank to form with the remainder of said blank an opening capable of receiving the complementary container in encircling arrangement, said slit being no greater in extent than one-half the circumferential extent of the complementary container on which it is adapted to be mounted.

9. In a one-piece spout, as defined inclaim 8, wherein score lines are formed in one surface of said blank, said score lines extending between said base and said narrower end portions in laterally spaced and longitudinal arrangement. D

l A spout for embracmgly encircling a complementary container, said spout formed from a sheet of flexible material and comprising a body portion and an integral band lying in a common substantially flat plane and having the general shape of a trapezoid, one end of the generally parallel ends of said body portion being substantially straight and including said band, the nonparallel sides of said body portion converging from said one end toward the other end thereof, said body being contiguous to said body portion, said band and the portion of saidbody portion contiguous to said band having a total length permitting said band and the material of said 1 body portion contiguous to said band to be placed in container encircling relationship to a complementary container.

11. A spout as defined in claim 10, and wherein.

curved slits are provided in said body portion at each end of said band, said curved slits extending in the general direction of said other end.

12. The combination of a one-piece spout for mounting on the outer surface of a complementary container wherein said spout is comprised of a flat blank of flexible sheet material of generally trapezoidal shape having converging side margins with end portions of differing lengths, the broader end of said blank provided with a slit which defines a band integral with said blank and when deflected out of the plane of said blank presenting with said blank an opening to accept the complementary container in gripping encircling relation, the narrow end of said blank providing a tip portion to said spout, the spout device being storable on said complementary container when said broader end of said blank is in the vicinity of one end of the container with the remaining blank of the spout encircling the container body, the tip portion being capable of being extended beyond the other end of the container as the spot is moved relative to the container body to provide a pouring surface formed generally to the configuration of the outer surface of the container and presenting a concave surface to facilitate pouring of the contents of the container in a controlled manner. 

1. A spout for embracingly encircling a complementary container, said spout formed from a sheet of flexible material and comprising a body portion in the general shape of a trapezoid and an integral band lying in a common substantially flat plane, the ends of said band being integrally connected to the opposite ends of one end of the generally parallel ends of said body portion, the non-parallel sides of said body portion converging from said one end toward the other end thereof, said band anD said one end having a combined length permitting said band and said one end to be placed in container encircling relationship on a complementary container.
 2. In a spout as defined in claim 1, and score lines formed in said body section and extending longitudinally thereof between said one end and said other end.
 3. In a spout as defined in claim 1, said material comprising a resilient, flexible material.
 4. In a spout as defined in claim 1, said band being formed substantially contiguous to said one end.
 5. In a spout as defined in claim 1, said band being formed in a curvilinear shape of more and half of a circle.
 6. In a spout as defined in claim 5, and an integral handle formed from said material to extend from the marginal edge of said one end.
 7. In a spout as defined in claim 1, said band being formed in a curvilinear shape, and said one end including a lip portion extending within the arc defined by said band.
 8. A one-piece spout for mounting on the outer surface of a complementary container comprising a flat blank of flexible sheet material of generally trapezoidal shape with a broader end portion of said bland defining a base of said spout and the longitudinal side marginal edges of said blank extending from said base in a converging direction to the other end of said blank, the other narrower end portion of said blank defining the tip portion of said spout, said blank provided with slit means substantially parallel to said base to form an integral band adapted to be moved out of the plane of said blank to form with the remainder of said blank an opening capable of receiving the complementary container in encircling arrangement, said slit being no greater in extent than one-half the circumferential extent of the complementary container on which it is adapted to be mounted.
 9. In a one-piece spout, as defined in claim 8, wherein score lines are formed in one surface of said blank, said score lines extending between said base and said narrower end portions in laterally spaced and longitudinal arrangement.
 10. A spout for embracingly encircling a complementary container, said spout formed from a sheet of flexible material and comprising a body portion and an integral band lying in a common substantially flat plane and having the general shape of a trapezoid, one end of the generally parallel ends of said body portion being substantially straight and including said band, the non-parallel sides of said body portion converging from said one end toward the other end thereof, said body being contiguous to said body portion, said band and the portion of said body portion contiguous to said band having a total length permitting said band and the material of said body portion contiguous to said band to be placed in container encircling relationship to a complementary container.
 11. A spout as defined in claim 10, and wherein curved slits are provided in said body portion at each end of said band, said curved slits extending in the general direction of said other end.
 12. The combination of a one-piece spout for mounting on the outer surface of a complementary container wherein said spout is comprised of a flat blank of flexible sheet material of generally trapezoidal shape having converging side margins with end portions of differing lengths, the broader end of said blank provided with a slit which defines a band integral with said blank and when deflected out of the plane of said blank presenting with said blank an opening to accept the complementary container in gripping encircling relation, the narrow end of said blank providing a tip portion to said spout, the spout device being storable on said complementary container when said broader end of said blank is in the vicinity of one end of the container with the remaining blank of the spout encircling the container body, the tip portion being capable of being extended beyond the other end of the container as the spot is moved relative to the container body to provide a pouring surface formed Generally to the configuration of the outer surface of the container and presenting a concave surface to facilitate pouring of the contents of the container in a controlled manner. 